Jingjing trashed over fare rollback

National transport federation Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide or PISTON criticized Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 director Rogelio Osmeña for allegedly insinuating that the fare rollback could also be implemented in Cebu.

Echoing the statement of the local transport group, PISTON spokesman George San Mateo said fare in Cebu is already low and fare rollback here could affect poor drivers.

San Mateo and other PISTON leaders are in Cebu City supposedly to attend the protest actions led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in connection with the 12th ASEAN Summit, which was postponed for next year. San Mateo said Osmeña is insinuating that a provisional fare cut should also be applied in Cebu. "We support the position taken by the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu, which is the local PISTON Cebu chapter in opposing Osmena's insinuation. PISTON fully agrees with NADSU chairman Anthony Pogado that a fare rollback in Cebu is unwarranted considering that the minimum jeepney fare in Cebu is already low at P6," he added. Yesterday, Pogado said that there is no need to reduce fares here because minimum fare in Region 7, which is pegged at P6 for the first four kilometers, is way below the minimum fares in Luzon at P7.50. "Kung naay fare reduction, ang pletehan sa Manila P7 ra gihapon. Unsa man mahitabo sa pletehan nato diri? Kung ikumpara sa Manila, alkanse na ta daan og P1," Pogado said.

On the other hand, PISTON members said they would defy the provisional fare rollback in Luzon. San Mateo warned the LTFRB, Land Transportation Office and traffic personnel that they might face legal consequences if the said agencies apprehend jeepney drivers who are not yet aware of the LTFRB's provisional order for a 50 cents jeepney fare cut in Central Luzon, National Capital Region and Southern Tagalog.

San Mateo emphasized that jeepney drivers in the said regions are still holding a legitimate tariff rate that stipulates minimum fare is P7.50, not P7. LTFRB and other government agencies cannot just apprehend the jeepney drivers unless it formally clarifies the status of the present jeepney tariff rates.

"We believe it will be illegal for the LTFRB and other government agencies to apprehend the drivers not until the new tariff rates will be made available by the LTFRB to the drivers," he stressed. - Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV